Download English oboist Celia was Chairman of the BBC Symphony Orchestra

English oboist Celia was Chairman of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Principal Oboe and Soloist for the London
Chamber Players, Soloist at the Royal Albert and the Barbican Halls, judge for the BBC 'Young Musician of the Year'
competition before moving to Australia with her family at the end of 2006, (the day after performing in the ‘Last
Night of the Proms’ live broadcast, with an estimated audience of 80 million worldwide.) She was honoured by Royal
Academy of Music who awarded her an Honorary Associateship for her achievements in the music profession.
Since then Celia has been appointed as Principal Oboe of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Lecturer in Oboe at
Elder Conservatorium as well as guesting with many of the Symphony Orchestras in Australia and New Zealand, the
Australia Ensemble, Sydney Soloists and the Australian Idol Grand Final orchestra. She was invited to give the
Southern Hemisphere Premiere with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra of Messaien’s last work, Concert a Quatre, in
2010. Elected President of the Australasian Double Reed Society in 2007, Celia has been invited to give
masterclasses, recitals, reedmaking demonstrations and workshops all over Australia and in New Zealand. She has
formed Sound Academy, her chamber group with strings, and a successful duo with the distinguished organist Amy
Johansen with a CD recording for Move records is scheduled for release next year. In Adelaide Festival 2011 she
performed the famous ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ solo conducted by the composer, Ennio Morricone.
Celia’s career has found her working closely with many of the giants of twentieth century music in person including
Boulez, Berio, Bernstein, Carter, Andriessen, Tippett, Adams, and many others. The BBC commissioned a solo work
from the Spanish composer Carlos Miranda and a solo work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. ‘Tristessa’ by
Michael Berkeley (son of Lennox) was recorded conducted by Richard Hickox in 2003 and chosen by Gramophone
Magazine as Editors Choice of the Month. Celia’s partners in chamber and solo work have also included Kenneth
Sillito, violin, Thomas Trotter, organ, the Coull Quartet, and Alison Balsom, trumpet. Celia’s solo performances have
always spoken to audiences. Her performance of James Macmillan’s ‘The World’s Ransoming’ with the BBCSO
conducted by Sir Andrew Davies was described as ‘expert’…’plangent’...’excellent’…and ‘eloquent’…’still lingers in
this reviewer’s memory…’
Her discography includes recordings with conductors Andrew Litton, Kees Bakels, Mark Wigglesworth, Donal
Runnicles, Richard Hickox, live television broadcasts of The Rite of Spring with Valery Gergiev, and Daphnis and Chloe
with Pierre Boulez, live broadcast as soloist with John Adams, and Der Rosenkavalier with Andrew Litton . She can
also be heard on blockbuster film soundtracks recorded at Abbey Road in London and Trackdown in Sydney, and on
the soundtrack of ‘Dr Who’ and other titles for BBC TV.
Committed to connecting players all over the globe, during Celia’s Presidency,the ADRS has increased its
membership base, held masterclasses by some of the world’s greatest players, and expanded to open branches in
New Zealand and Queensland. The ADRS national conference and competition has expanded in prize money and
attendance, attracts more and more sponsorship, and in 2013 will come to Adelaide. Celia was a Featured Artist at
the 2009 International Double Reed Conference. Celia has been invited to teach, lecture and examine at The
Guildhall School of Music and Drama,The Royal Welsh Colleg e of Music and Drama, The Royal Scottish Academy,
The Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide and the Conservatorium of Music, Brisbane.
Celia herself studied with Nicholas Daniel at the Purcell School for gifted musicians in Harrow as a Scholarship
holder. She also has a degree in Music from the University of York.Awards include first placeat the National Festival
of Music for Youth Oboe Competition, the Craxton Chamber Music Prize, Musical Trust sponsorships others. She won
places in the European Community Youth Orchestra, conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, and the first Pacific Music
Festival Orchestra with Leonard Bernstein.